Beef Rib Roast

Also indexed as:Rib-Eye Roast
Beef Rib Roast: Main Image

Buying Tips

A portion of this cut that includes one rib makes two generous servings. If you don’t want to have leftovers, figure the number of people you will be serving, divide the number in half, and buy a roast with that many ribs. Look for rib roast that has a clear, red color. Beef normally has a purple-red color, but when exposed to oxygen it takes on a cherry-red hue known as the “bloom.” While the exterior is bright red, the interior of the meat retains the darker color. Vacuum-packed rib roast also shows this purplish color. Packaged rib roast should be cold and the packaging free of punctures or tears; vacuum-packed roast should have its seal intact. The beef should be firm to the touch. Check the label for the “sell-by” date and make sure to buy it before or on that date.

Varieties

Rib roast is available either with bones in, called standing rib roast, or boneless, called rolled rib roast.

Small End Rib Roast

Cut from the part of the ribs closest to the loin, this is the most tender half of the rib roast.

Large End Rib Roast

Cut from the part of the ribs closest to the chuck, the large-end roast is slightly less tender than the small end roast.

Rib-Eye Roast

This is a boneless roast cut from a single muscle, the rib-eye muscle. Well-marbled and tender, it is also known as a Delmonico roast, after the New York restaurant that popularized this cut in the mid 1800s.

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires December 2025.